Steam-trap.



F. A. LITTLEFIELD.

- STEAM TRAP. APPLICATION HLED 0CT.24. I912.

- Patented Sept. 7, 1915. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBI A PLANDORAPH 60., WASHINGTON. D. c.

tinrtrnn sra rns Parana ent ies.

FRANK A. LITTLEFIELD, OF NASHUA, HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO NASHUA MACEINECOMPANY, OF NASHUA, NEW' HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

STEAM-TRAP.

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

Application filed October 24, 1912. Serial 110.. 727,498.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK A. LITTLE- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nashua, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Steam-Traps, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the draw ings representing like parts.

This invention relates to steam traps, and among other objects provides a simple and effective construction and mode of'operation.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: V

Figure 1 is a plan view of an illustrative steam trap embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section on a vertical median plane of the trap shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative steam trap there shown as embodying the invention comprises a frame including a tripod 1 for supporting the various parts of the trap and rings 3 and 5 rising from said tripod adjacent opposite ends thereof; The ring 3 is hollow and has connected therewith a feed pipe 7 provided with avalve body 9 containing a check valve 11. A bowl or receiver 13 is provided having a pair of tubes 15, 15 connecting said bowl with elbow 7 tubes 17, 17 having trunnion tubes 19, 19

journaled in bearings 21, 21 threadedinto the hollow frame ring 3 referred to. By this arrangement the bowl 13 may tilt for filling and after emptying the same. The trunnion tubes 19, 19 and bearings 21, 21 are provided with flanges between which are confined packing rings 23. The steam pressure within the hollow ring will tend to thrust the trunnion tubes19, 19 toward one another and maintain the flanges and pack ing in tight contact.

The tilting of the bowl 13- -is preferably governed by means of a weighted lever 25 connected by a link 27 with an ear 29 on the bowl 13. In the particular form of weighted lever and link connection shown the operation of the trap is rendered desirably prompt and actively-responsive to predetermined conditions ofwater in the bowl 13 by an arrangement of leverage changing device consisting of an elongated bearing for the lever 25' formed by fingers 31 projecting fromsaid lever and forming between them a bearing engaging a roller 33 on the frame. When the bowl 13 is in its up position, as

7 shown in Fig. 2, the left finger 31 engages the roller 33. When the bowl til-ts downwardthe rocking of the lever 25 will lift the weight thereon and cause the lever to slide in the direction of itslength to bring its other finger 31 against the roller 33, thereby increasing the effective leverage of the bowl 13 on the lever weight. A. discharge pipe 35 is connected to the hollow ring 3 preferably at the top thereof anda-live steam pipe 37 is connected to said hollowring preferably adjacent the bottom thereof. To control the live steam a valve is provided for the pipe 37 comprising a valve body 39' having a partition 41 therein formed to provide a valve seat 43. Cooperating with this seat is a valve disk 45 on avalve stem 47 projecting up through a valve bonnet 49-.

The live steam controlling valve 45 has a stem 51 depending therefrom through an opening in the base of the valve body 39 which may be closed and opened by a valve 53 carried by said stem. This valve may be inclosed bya chamber 55 having a discharge nozzle 57. By this construction, when the steam valveis closed the valve 53 is opened and permitsthe escape of air from the bowl 13 as more fully hereinafter described.

Hitherto, so far as I am aware,'it has been customary to provide the outletwith a weighted check valve, the weight on which would be sufiicientto prevent a discharge from the'bowl through the outlet pipe from the pressure on the feed pipe into the. receiver. Thisweighted check valve was only sufficient to resist small pressures, since it would not be practical to increase the size of the weight and valve parts sufficiently to take care of high pressures. Furthermore, to discharge the bowl it was necessaryto have alive steam pressure'higher than that afforded by the weighted valve in order to overcome the same and effect a discharge therethrough. Y

. To provide anoutlet control which will be independent. of the pressure conditions in the receiver or of the live steam, I will now describe a valve arrangement for controlling the outlet discharge. To this end a valve body 59is threaded or otherwise secured to the outlet pipe 35. Said valve body is provided with a partition 61 formed to provide a valve seat 63 with which coiiperates a valve disk 65. This valve disk is carried by a valve stem 67 projecting up through a bonnet 69. g

In order that the accumulated water in the bowl may be utilized to control the steam and discharge valves they are operated by the movement of the bowl. To this end the elbow tubes 17 17 referred to are provided with ears 71 projecting therefrom. These ears are apertured to receive journal ends of a cross-head 73 loosely receiving the steam valve stem 47. To transmit the tilting movement of the head 23 to said stem, the latter is provided with upper and lower nuts 7 5 and lock nuts 77 which may be adjusted as desired. Preferably the .upper nuts are set somewhat above the head 73 in order to permit a slight play and enable the bowl to tilt somewhat before bringing the head 73 into engagement with the upper nut 75. By this arrangement the bowl acquires a certain momentum and effective force before it becomes active in lifting the steam valve 45 from its seat.

. To transmit the tilting movement of the bowl to the discharge valve thestem 67 of the latter is provided with a cross-bar 79 loosely embracing said stem, said head being connected by rods 81 (Fig. 3) with ends of the journals of the cross head 73 referred to. To transmit the movement of the head 79 to the valve stem 67, upper and lower nuts 83 and lock nuts 85 are provided on said stem.

To yieldingly press the steam and dis-' charge valves on their seats a helical spring 73 may be interposed between the head 73 and the lower nut 75, and a helical spring 85 may be interposed between the lower nut 83 and'the cross-bar 79.

The hollow ring 3 may be provided with partitions 85 and 87, forming a duct 89 leading from one of the trunnion tubes 19 to the discharge pipe 35 and a duct 91 leading from the steam pipe 37 to the other trunnion tube 19.

The operation of the steam trap described is as follows. It may be supposed that the bowl 13 is in its up tilted position, being held there by its Weighted lever 25. When in this position the steam valve disk 45 and the water discharge valve disk 65 are on their seats, thereby closing the bowl from communication with the steam and discharge pipes 35 and 37. Water of condensation is led past the check valve 11 through the pipe 7 through the right trunnion tube 19 (Fig. L) and the tube 15 connected therewith into the bowl 13. \Vhen sufficient water accumulates in the bowl it will overcome the counterbalance weight and cause the bowl to tilt downward. This movement is accelerated by the automatic change in the leverage of the weighted lever 25 in sliding on its fulcrum roller 33. The initial tilt of the bowl rocks the head 73 up into engagement with the upper nut on the steam valve stem 47, taking up the play between them. Further tilting of the bowl snatches the valve disk 45 quickly and positively from its seat and permits live steam to pass through the steam pipe 37, through the frame ring duct 91, thence through the left trunnion tube 19 (Fig. 4L) and the tube 15 connected therewith into the bowl 13. To deliver the steam into the bowl a steam duct 93 (Fig. 2) may be cast in the wall of the bowl and present an outlet at thetop of the bowl.

The upward rocking of the head 7 3, occasioned by'the tilt of the bowl, not only opens the steam valve, but, operating through the connecting rods 81 and stem 67, snatches the discharge valve disk 65 quickly and positively from its seat. This permits the water, forced by the steam, to pass from the bowl, through the right tube 15 (Fig. 1) and the trunnion tube 19, connected therewith, thence through the frame ring duct 89 out of the discharge pipe 35.

The pressure of the steam in the live steam pipe tends to hold the steam valve disk 45 on its seat. As stated, in order that the bowl may not be called upon to perform the work of lifting both the steam and discharge valves simultaneously the upper nuts on the discharge valve stem are positioned thereon to provide a slight lost motion between the cross-bar 79 and the same before said bar comes into lifting engagement therewith. It will be understood, however, that .this lost motion is so slight that under the quick rocking of the bowl both the steam and discharge valves are operated almost at the same instant.

After the water has been discharged from the bowlas described, the counterbalance weight tilts the same up again to its position shown in Fig. 2 and thereby closes the steam and discharge valves. The operations described above are automatically repeated each time suflicient water accumulates in the bowl.

To permit the escape of the steam from the bowl after discharge, the vent valve 53 is opened on the closing of the steam valve. While the steam valve is open the vent valve of course is closed.

By my invention is provided a simple and effective construction whereby the bowl contents may be quickly and readilydischarged independently of the .pressure on the dis charge valve and independently of the pressure on the feed.- The steam for effecting the discharge does not need to be sufficient to lift a weighted check valve before effecting the discharge, but merely suflicient to lift the water discharged the desired height. Thus the steam trap promptly and effectively discharges regardless of. the pres sure inthe feed and throughout a wide range of live steam pressure. v Q 7 While the steam trap described is intended more particularly as a lifting trap, obviously it can be used for other purposes.

So far as I am aware, I am the first to provide the discharge outlet with a valve operated by the accumulated water in the bowl or by the movement of the bowl.

It will be understood that the steam trap shown in the drawings is selected merely as one illustrative embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

l. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support including a hollow ring, a tilting bowl ournaled oncsaid ringand communicating therewith, steam inlet and dis charge pipes connected to and communicating with said ring, valves for said steam and discharge pipes, means connecting said valves, and a member movable with said receiver for reciprocating said connecting means positively to open and close said valves.

2. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support, a tilting receiver fulcrumed thereon, steam inlet and condensation discharge pipes communicating with said receiver, valves for said pipes, stems for said valves, a member fixed to said receiver and movable therewith for operating said steam valve stem, and means fast to said member for operating said discharge valve stem.

3. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support, a tilting receiver fulcrumed thereon, steam inlet and condensation discharge pipes communicatingwith said receiver, valves for said pipes, means connect- I ing said valves, and a single member projccting from said receiver and movable therewith for engaging said connecting means positively to open and close said valves.

4. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support, a tilting receiver fulcrumed thereon, steam inlet and condensation discharge pipes communicating with said receiver, valves for said pipes, means connecting said valves including a frame straddling said discharge pipe, and a member projecting from said receiver and movable there with to reciprocate said frame and thereby open and close said valves.

5. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support including a hollow ring, a receiver fulcrum'ed on and communicating with said ring, feed, steam inlet and condensation discharge pipes connected to and communicating with said ring, a'check valve for said feed ,pipe, valves for said steam and discharge pipes located substantially in vertical alinement, means includin an operating fmember extending upward rom one'of said valves to the other, and an actuating member for said operating member fixed to and movable with said receiver.

6. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support, a tilting receiver fulcrumed thereon, steam inlet and condensation discharge pipes communicating with said receiver, valves for said pipes, a member projecting from said receiver and movable therewith, and means connecting said valves operated by said member and having provision for snatching first the'steam valve from its seat and then the discharge valve from its seat.

7. A steam trap comprising in combination, a support, a tilting receiver fulcrumed thereon, steam inlet and condensation discharge pipes communicating with said receiver, valves for said pipes, stems for said I valves, a cross head movable with said re having a valve thereon communicating with the lower portion of the ring, a discharge pipe having a valve thereon communicating with the upper portion of the ring, a feed pipe communicating with the ring at substantially the fulcrumed point of the receiver thereon, means connecting the receiver with. the steam inlet and discharge valves for operating the same whereby the steam valve is first opened by the movement of the receiver, and means connected with the receiver for accelerating the movement thereof for quickly snatching the discharge valve from its seat following the opening of the steam valve.

9. A steam trap comprising a tilting receiver, adischarge pipe leading therefrom and having a valve thereon, a steam pipe leading thereto and having a valve thereon, means connecting said valves, and means connecting the receiver with said valve-connecting means for operating the valves, and means for accelerating the movement of the recelver to snatch the discharge valve quickly from its seat; said means comprisname to this specification, in'the presence of ing a counterweight connected tp the retwo subscribing Witnesses.

ceiver and means for automatical y chan ing the leverage of the eight upon mov e- FRANK LITTLEFIELD- ment of the receiver, to open the discharge Witnesses:

valve. J OHN R. SPRING,

In testlmony whereof, I have signed my lVIAnsHALL D OABLEIGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

